Picnic table



Nov. 10, 1942. F. A. KRIENITZ PICNIC TABLE Filed Oct. 1, 1941 w I m F.

ATTOR N EYS l 'atented Nov. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PICNIC TABLE Fannie A. Krienitz, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 1, 1941, Serial No. 413,209

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a picnic table and has for an object to provide a picnic table which can be folded to form a small compact case about the size of a suitcase for transportation and storage.

Another object is to provide a picnic table which can be easily set up in minimum time and without the use of tools.

Another object is to provide a picnic table which, when folded, provides compartments to store food and drinks in one portion thereof and a table cloth and a blanket in another portion thereof.

A further object is to provide a picnic table having elongated slots which permit ventilation when the table is folded to form a case and which also provides a handle for carrying the case;

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a picnic table constructed in accordance with the invention and shown folded to form a case for transportation and storage.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table in the preliminary position of setting up the table.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the table in set-up position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the table set up.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the table set up.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, I0 and II designate two similar elongated shallow boxes disposed with their open sides confronting each other as shown in Figure 1. The boxes are hingedly connected together at respective meeting longitudinal edges as shown at 12 to form a case similar to a suitcase when the boxes are folded upon each other.

to respective longitudinal edges of the boxes opposite the hinges to hold the case closed. A pair of elongated slots [5 and I6 are formed at the center of respective walls of the boxes to co-act in forming a handle between them to carry the case and also these form ventilators for the case.

The boxes I0 and II are provided at the corners with legs ll, I8, [9 and 20 which in the present embodiment of the invention are cut from the end walls of the box and when in folded position form continuations of the end walls as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. Dowel pins 2!, 22, 23 and 24 project from the edges of the end walls and are received in apertures 25, 26, 21 and 28 in the outer ends of the legs to hold the legs in closed or folded position. Hinge pintles 29, 30, 3| and 32 pivotally secure the legs near their outer ends in recesses formed in the longitudinal top walls of the boxes as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Folding braces 33, 34, 35 and 36 have their sections hingedly connected at the center of the brace by hinge pins 31, 38, 39 and 40. The braces are pivotally secured to the legs by pivot pins 4|, 42, 43 and 44. Pivot pins 45, 46, 41 and 48 pivotally secure the braces to the end walls of the boxes. The braces may be opened to inclined position between the boxes and the legs similar to the braces of a folding card table to hold the table in set up position as shown in Figure 3.

The box In is provided with a plurality of compartments 49, and 5|. The outer compartments 49 and 5| are fitted with a vacuum bottle and a vacuum food jug respectively. The center compartment 50 is fitted with plates and cups and may be used for lunch foodstuffs. The box ll forms a compartment in which may be stored a blanket and a tablecloth as shown in Figure 2.

In operation, the picnic table when folded to form a case may be easily carried in one hand by inserting the fingers through the slots [5 and I6 and gripping that portion of the boxes between the slots, which portion forms a handle. To set up the table the latches I4 are unlatched and then the boxes rocked open on their hinges. Thereupon the legs may be rocked to the vertical by pulling out on the free ends of the legs until the folding braces unfold. The braces unfold as the legs are swung to the vertical and hold the legs against collapse and then the table may be reversed from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3 to assume set-up position. To fold the table to form a case A pair of trunk latches l3 and I4 are secured the above operations are reversed.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood Without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding picnic table comprising, a pair of similar elongated shallow boxes disposed with their open sides confronting each other, hinges connecting the boxes together at respective meeting longitudinal edges thereof, trunk latches secured to respective longitudinal edges of the boxes opposite the hinges, the boxes when closed and latched forming a case similar to a suitcase, there being a pair of elongated slots formed at the center of respective walls of the boxes 00- acting in forming a handle and also forming ventilators for the case, legs pivoted at respective corners of the boxes out from the end walls of the boxes and adapted to form continuations of said walls, means for holding the legs in folded position, and folding braces pivotally connected to the legs and to respective boxes adapted to unfold and assume an inclined position between the legs and boxes when the boxes open to form a table top and the legs are moved to a vertical position.

2. The structure as in claim 1 in which said means comprises dowel pins carried by respective walls of the boxes receivable in openings formed in respective legs.

FANNIE A. KRIENITZ. 

